What advantage does cyanocobalamin have fron methylcobalamin​

What advantage does cyanocobalamin have fron methylcobalamin?

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an important water-soluble vitamin involved in red blood cell production, brain health, and DNA synthesis (1).

A deficiency in this key vitamin can cause serious symptoms, including fatigue, nerve damage, digestive issues, and neurological problems like depression and memory loss (1Trusted Source).

Therefore, many people turn to vitamin B12 supplements to help meet their needs and prevent a deficiency.

This article examines the main differences between methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin — two of the most common sources of vitamin B12 found in supplements.

Vitamin B12 supplements are typically derived from two sources: cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin.

Both are nearly identical and contain a cobalt ion surrounded by a corrin ring.

However, each have a different molecule attached to the cobalt ion. While methylcobalamin contains a methyl group, cyanocobalamin contains a cyanide molecule.

Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of vitamin B12 that’s not found in nature (2Trusted Source).

It’s used more frequently in supplements, as it’s considered more stable and cost effective than other forms of vitamin B12.

May be absorbed and retained differently

Another major difference between methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin is the way they’re absorbed and retained within your body.

Some studies suggest that your body may absorb cyanocobalamin slightly better than methylcobalamin.

In fact, one study found that people’s bodies absorbed about 49% of a 1-mcg dose of cyanocobalamin, compared to 44% of the same dose of methylcobalamin (5Trusted Source).

Conversely, another study comparing the two forms reported that about three times as much cyanocobalamin was excreted through urine, indicating that methylcobalamin may be retained better within your body (6Trusted Source).

However, some research suggests that differences in bioavailability between the two forms may be insignificant and that absorption could be influenced by factors such as age and genetics (7Trusted Source8Trusted Source).

Unfortunately, recent research directly comparing these two forms of vitamin B12 is limited.

Additional studies are needed to measure the absorption and retention of methylcobalamin versus cyanocobalamin in healthy adults.

Both methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin can be converted to other forms of vitamin B12

When you ingest cyanocobalamin, it can be converted to both of the active forms of vitamin B12, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin.

Much like methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin is essential to many aspects of your health.

It’s involved in the metabolism of fats and amino acids, as well as the formation of myelin, which creates a protective sheath around your nerve cells (9Trusted Source).

Deficiencies in both forms of vitamin B12 can increase your risk of neurological issues and adverse side effects (10Trusted Source).

Both cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin are reduced to a cobalamin molecule that’s converted to the active forms of this vitamin within the cells of the body (11Trusted Source).

Some researchers recommended treating vitamin B12 deficiencies with either cyanocobalamin or a combination of methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin due to distinct properties of these latter two forms (9Trusted Source).

Both forms have health benefits

Although distinct differences exist between methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin, both have beneficial effects on health and can prevent B12 deficiencies (12Trusted Source).

In fact, one study found that treating seven B12-deficient people with oral methylcobalamin normalized vitamin B12 levels in their blood within just 2 months (13Trusted Source).

Similarly, another study showed that taking cyanocobalamin capsules for 3 months also increased vitamin B12 levels in 10 people with pernicious anemia, a condition caused by impaired B12 absorption (14Trusted Source).

Both types of the vitamin may also provide other health benefits.

One review of seven studies showed that both methylcobalamin and a B-complex containing cyanocobalamin were effective in reducing symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that leads to nerve damage (15Trusted Source).

Additionally, several animal studies have found that each form could have neuroprotective effects and may be beneficial in treating conditions that affect your nervous system (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).

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